To The Editor: Merrill is looking for “Seven Wonders” – seven wonders of the town and area. Well, we have one for you, and with all the other good suggestions you will receive, you just may want to add an “eighth” wonder to the list.

We nominate the Court System of Lincoln County. Yes, the Court System. Why? Because if you want to live a life of crime, or perhaps just dabble in it, you are safe here in Lincoln County.

You can make your own drugs and then decide to “counsel” other users on the depth of despair you can get yourself in. You would possibly get a tap on the wrist for that. You could knock over tombstones and be scolded. You could drive drunk and be stopped time after time and yet get a talking to. You could decide to take a nap while driving on Hwy. 17 and kill a young mother, and after five (yes, 5) long agonizing years, you could get a big fat traffic violation against your name.

Somehow, a life and a traffic violation do not seem to be on the same plain. Or is it? Keep in mind, this is Lincoln County. Maybe Plea Bargain County would be a little more appropriate from now on.

It’s funny, you’d expect the assistant district attorney to be working for you – on the prosecution side of the law – and when he doesn’t even as much as stand up and fight for you …. Well, here we are, back to that eighth wonder, the Court System of Lincoln County.

Want to get away with something? Come to Lincoln County where court-ordered mandates are not upheld, blood tests seem to disappear, friendships with the State Patrol and predecided judgments seem apparent, and the court turns a deaf ear to fact and preaches that “everyone – you, me and everyone else, have made mistakes”! That is true, but those mistakes have never caused a death.

I guess we did make a mistake in trusting Lincoln County. Don and Barbara Dunst Gleason

it is too bad that the crime that has been committed so far (our recent rash), for the most part will be, like you said "a slap on the wrist" no wonder the crimes seem to be happening more often. Maybe our court system shouldn't be afraid to lay the law down!!!!

Over a year ago I reported a felony that was committed on my property. Any novice first year detective could have made an arrest with the information we had. We were told that there were more important felonies to work on. One year later it is gone and forgotten and won't probably be looked at again by the Dept. It seems that you can commit a felony, and if you fall short of using a gun, you're free to commit the felony again. Too busy, ha, I could have wrapped up that arrest in one hour.